Knock-down receptacles



June l0, 1958 SA K. WOLFF KNooK-DowN 'RECEPTACLES 2 Sheets-Sheet l FiledAug. 17, 1955 F IG. 2

INVENTOR 64m. vvoLFF' FIG.1

/TORNEY Filed Aug. 17, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l Mk Yik Nk Wk /3 INVENTORSAUL K. woLPF BY y ,TToRNEY KNUCK-DGWN RECEPTACLES Saul yK. Wolff, LongBeach, N. Y., assignor to Wolff Appliance Corp., Long Island City, N.Y., a corporation of New York Application August 17, 1955, Serial No.528,972

4 Claims. (Cl. 220--4) This invention relates to knock-down receptaclessuch as hampers and the like articles'.

An object of this invention is to provide a receptacle comprising topand bottom channel-shaped frames opening toward each other, panelshaving a sliding interlock with respect to one another and havingV theirupper and lower ends received in said channel-shaped frames, and

tie members interconnecting said frames for clamping the frames to saidpanels.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device of the characterdescribed in which a bottom member is, removably mounted on the upperedge of the inner ilange of the bottom channel-shaped frame to form abottom wall for the receptacle. 'Y

Yet a further object of this invention is to provide inl a device of thecharacter described, a cover hingedto the rear of the outer llange ofthe top channel-shaped frame, said lhinge being provided with means tolimit the upward swinging movement of the cover to a predeterminedangle.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a receptacle ofthe character described which may be made in Various heights, widths andlengths.

Yet a further object of this invention is to provide a receptacle of thecharacter described supported on ball feet attached to cross stripswelded to the underside of the web of the bottom channel-shaped framefor supporting the receptacle. p

Yet another object of this invention is to provide an improved device ofthe character described which may be readily set up or taken apart, andwhich may be shipped in knock-down compact condition, and set up withoutthe necessity for any special tools or skills.

Yet a further object of this invention is to provide a strong, ruggedyand durable receptacle of the character del scribed which shall berelatively easy to manufacture, easy to manipulate and which shall bepractical and eflcient to a high degree in use.

Other objects of this invention will in part and in part hereinafterpointed out.

The invention accordingly consists inthe features of construction,combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts which will beexemplified in the construction herebe obvious,

inafter described, and of which the scope of invention will be indicatedin the following claims.

In the drawing, forming a part of this specification and accompanyingthe same:

Fig. l -is a longitudinal vertical crosssectional view of a receptacleembodying the invention and shown, for the purpose of illustration, inthe form of a hamper; Y l

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 2-2 of n Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a partial enlarged view of one corner of the structure shownin Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 4-4of Fig- 3; 1

Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional Vview takenon line 5.-,5 of Fig.l; and

web 13 from which extends upwardly an outer llange 14,v

and an inner flange 15. The bottom frame is rectangular in shape withcurved corners. The top frame 12 is of the same size and shape as theframe 11 and comprises a top web portion 16, an outer downwardlyextending flange 17, and an -inner downwardly extending flange 18. Theweb 13 of the bottom frame 11 is formed with fo-ur through openings 20located at the front and rear of the frame and inwardly of the cornersthereof. Said webs 13 are interconnected by a pair of paralleltransverse strips 22 which may be welded to said web. The strips 22extend from front to rear and are located adjacent the cornersl of theframe. Riveted to the ends of the strips by rivets 23 are ball feet 24on which the hamper is supported.

The web 16 of the top frame 12 is formed with four Ydownwardly depressedwalls 25 located at the front and rear of the frame and inwardly of thecorners thereof and above the openings 20 in the bottom web 13. Each ofthe depressed walls 25 is formed with' a pair of spaced openings 26 forthe purpose hereinafter appearing.

Interposed between the frames 11 and 12 are similar` symmetricallydisposed front and rear panels 3i), similar symmetrically disposed endpanels 31 and four similar symmetrically disposed curved corner panels32. The panels 30, 31 and 32 are all of the same height. Their lower andupper ends are received within the lower and upper channel-shaped frames11 and 12, respectively. Each of the corner panels 32 has slidinginterlocking engagement with the adjacent panels, 30 and 31. T-he lowerends of the panels 30, 31 and 32 contact the upper surface of the web 13of the bottom frame 11. The upper edges of side panels 30, 31 and 32contact the under surface of the web 16 of the top frame member 12.

Each of the panelsy 30 comprises a flat wall 35 contactving at its lowerand upper ends, the inner surfaces of the tions 38 contacting the innersurfaces of the webs 15 and 18. Extending from the bent back portions 38are flanges 39 extending -outwardly toward the webs 14 and 17. Extendingfrom the flanges 39 are curved bent backkportions `30 somewhat spacedfrom the webs 14 and 17 and of smaller radius than the curved bent backportions 38.

Extending from the bent back portions '49 toward the webs 15 are endflanges 41 parallel to the flanges 37 and 39 and disposed substantiallymidway therebetween.

Flanges 41 have end edges 42 spaced from the. bent back portions 38. Theend panels 31 are similar to the panels 30 except that they are of lesswidth. They have outer walls 46 contacting the inner surfaces of theouter flanges 14 and 17 of the bottom and top frames 1l and 12.

Extending inwardly from the outer ends of each of the walls 45 areflanges 46 which extend inwardlytoward the inner flanges 15 and 18 ofthe frame. Extending from the flanges 46 are rounded bent backportions47 contacting said flanges 15 and 18. Extending from said bentback pontions 47 outwardly toward the outer flanges 14 and 17 areflanges 48. Extendingfrom thelilanges.i

Patented June l0, 1958` 3. 48 are round bent back portions 49 of smallerradius than the bent back portions 47 and somewhat spaced from the webs14 and 17. Extending from the bent back portions 49 are flanges 50iparallel to and substantially equally spaced from the flanges 46 and 48,and having end edges 51 spaced from the bent back portions 47.

Each of the corner panels 32 comprises a curved wall 55 contacting thecurved corner portions of the outer flanges 14 and 17 of the framemembers 11, 12. Extending inwardly from the outer end of each of thecurved walls 55 are flanges 56. One flange 56 is received between theflanges 37 and 41 of an adjacent panel 30, while the other flange 56 isreceived between the flanges 46 and 50 of an adjacent panel 31.Extending from the flanges 56 are curved bent back portions 57. Onecurved bent back portion 57 fits within the curved bent back portion 3Sof an adjacent panel 3f), while the other curved bent back portion 57 isvested within the curved bent back portion 47 of an adjacent panel 31.Extending from the curved bent back portions 57 are flanges 58. Oneflange 58 is received between the flanges 39 and 41 of an adjacent panel30, while the other flange 58 is received between flanges 48 and 50 ofan adjacent panel 31.

Thus, the corner panels 'have sliding interlocking engagement withadjacent panels 30 and 31. Also, these interlocks serve as spacers andreinforcement between the inner and outer flanges of the frame members11, 12. and also serve to rigidify the hamper.

Frame members 11 and 12 may be clamped against the opposite ends of thepanels 30, 31 and 32 by means of a plurality of rods 60. Four such rodsare shown for the purpose of illustration. Each tie rod 60 comprises anelongated rod portion 61 provided at its upper end with a head 62passing through the opening 26 in one of the depressed wall portions 25of the upper frame 12. The lower threaded ends 63 of the rods 61 passdownwardly through the openings 20. On the lower end of each rod is awasher 64 contacting the underside of the web 13. Screwed to eachthreaded portion 63 is a wing nut 65. Upon tightening the wing nuts 65of the tie rods, the bottom and top frames 11 and 13 are drawn togetherand clamped against opposite ends of the panels 30, 31 and 32.

Mounted on the upper edge 15a of the inner flange 15 of the bottom framemember 11 is a perforated board 66 which may be formed of fiber board,wood, metal, or any other suitable material, and serves as a bottom wallfor the hamper.

Attached to the outer flange 16 of the top frame 12 at the rear sidethereof, as by rivets 70, are a pair of spaced hinge members 71. Eachcomprises a leaf 72 contacting the flange 17 and a pair of spacedhorizontally aligned portions 72 receiving a hinge pin 73. Rotat-ablymounted on each hinge pin is a hinged member 74 comprising a sleeveportion received on the hinge pin and a leaf 75 extending therefrom.Attached to the outer surface of each leaf 75 is the wall 76 of a stopmember 77. Each member 77 comprises a substantially semicylindricalportion 78 extending from the wall 76 and having an edge 79 adapted tocontact the outer side of leaf '72.

Attached to the leaf 75 and wall '76 is a cover mem ber 80 for thehamper. The cover 80 may be made of wood or any other suitable material.The cover 80 may have a shape to flt over the top of the hamper. As thecover is swung upwardly, edges 19 contact the back of leaves 72 to limitupward swinging movement of the cover to vertical position.

It will now be understood that tne hamper may be shipped inknocked-down, compact condition and easily set up or collapsed. To setup the hamper, the panels may be first interlocked by means of thesliding lock connection explained hereinabove. The lower ends of thepanels may `be inserted into thebottom frame `11..

The bottom board 66 may then be dropped into place to rest on the upperedges of the inner flange of thc lower frame 11. The heads 62 ofthe tierods 60 may then be engaged through the openings 26. The top framemember 12 may then be fitted over the upper ends of the interlockedpanels 30, 31 and 32, and the lower ends of the rods passed through theopenings 2d. The washers 64 and wing nuts 65 may vthen be appded and thenuts tightened. The entire hamper may be disassembled by mcre lyremoving the wing nuts 65 of the washer. vben thc parts aredisassembled, a compact package may be made, because the panels, theframe and the various other parts may be compactly packaged into acomparatively small box, thereby saving shipping costs. The panels maybe of any suitable height and width, depending on the size of receptacledesired. Instead of employing four tie rods only two may be employed ifdesired, and they may be placed at the ends of the receptacle instead ofat the front and rear.

It will thus be seen that there is provided an article in which theseveral lobjects of this invention are achieved and which is welladapted to meet the conditions of pracu tical use.

As possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and asvarious changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it isto be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in theaccompanying drawing, is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in alimiting sense.

I claim:

l. A receptacle comprising front, rear, side and corner verticaleoextensive panels, each panel comprising a wall and mean-s at the endsof each wall having sliding interlocking engagement with complementarymeans at the ends of the adjacent walls, a bottom frame having a bottomweband inner and outer upwardly extending flanges, theV outer flangecontacting the outer surfaces of the lower ends of said walls of saidpanels, said complementary interlocking means extending transverselybetween said ffanges of the bottom frame and contacting the inner flangeof said frame, a top frame similar in shape and symmetrically disposedwith respect to the bottom frame and having a top web and downwardlyextending flanges, the outer flange ef thc top frame contacting theouter surfaces of the upper ends of said walls of said panels, and theinner flange of the top frame eontacting the inner sides of saidcomplementary interlocking means, a bottom wall mounted on the innerflange of said bottom frame, a cover hinged to the upper frame and meansto tie said frames together to clamp them to opposite ends of saidpanels, said tie means being disposed `between said walls of said panelsyand said inner flanges, and extending through said webs.

2. The combination of claim l, said tie means comprising tie rods havingheads at the upper ends thereof engaging the web of the top frame andthreaded end portions extending threugh openings in the web of thebottom frame, and receiving nuts for tightening the tie red to draw saidframes together.

3. A receptacle comprising top and bottom inwardly facing,channel-shaped, similar symmetrically disposed frames each having innerand outer flanges, and coextensive panels having their upper and lowerends received within said frames, tie means interconnecting said frames,of said panels comprising a wall contacting the inner sur faces of theouter flanges of said frames, a flange extending from said walltransversely toward the inner flanges of said frames, a bent backportion extending from the flange and contacting the inner flanges ofsaid frames, a flange extending transversely from the bent back portiontoward the outer flanges of the frames, a bent back portion extendingfrom the outer end of the last flange and spaced from the outer flangesof said frames and a flange extending transversely from the last bentback portion and disposed Vbetween the first and second flanges ofsaidpanel, an adjacent panel having a wall-contacting the outer anges ofsaid frames, a flange extending from one end of the wall `of the lastmentioned panel, and disposed between the rst fand third flanges `of thefirst panel, a bent back portion extending from the ilange of the secondpanel and nesting Within the rst bent back portion of the iirst panel,anda second ange extending from the bent back portion of the secondpanel and received between the second and third anges of the firstpanel, said flanges yand bent 'back portions of the two panels havingsliding interlocking engagement, and a bottom wall supported by saidbottom frame.

4. The `combination `of claim 3, said top frame having a plurality ofdepressions each formed with an opening,

the web of the bottom frame having openings aligned with said depressedportion, and said tie means bomprising tie rods interlocking saidfra-mes, each tie rod having a head at its upper end received in one ofsaid 6 depressions, and said tie rod passing through an opening in saiddepression and having a lower end passing through an `opening in the webof the bottom frame, and a nut `screwed to the lower end of each rod.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS397,301 McKeever et al. Feb. 5, 1889 1,220,621 Friedel Mar. 27, 19171,731,747 Mayerson Oct. 15, 1929- 2,187,403 Rubin Jan. 16, 19402,591,104 Stone Apr. 1, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 123,192 Australia Dec. 19,1946 653,689 Great Britain May 23, 1951 655,099 Great Brit-ain July 11,1951

